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Soul Ledger
Retribution

Retribution

Hana kept moving through the dark, eerie path that seemed to stretch endlessly before her. Every step echoed in the strange space, reverberating off unseen walls as if the void itself was alive and watching her. Her pulse quickened, though she wasn’t sure if it was the fear of the unknown or the flicker of hope burning within her. The voice had been so clear, so commanding—there was no turning back now. She had to find its source.

"Find me..." the voice echoed again, growing closer.

"Who are you?" Hana called out into the darkness. Her voice sounded small, as though it was swallowed by the oppressive air around her. "What do you want from me?"

Silence followed her words. The tension hung in the air, but she kept walking, each step filled with a rising sense of urgency. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Had the Ledger been leading her down this path all along? Was this some kind of punishment, or... a test?

"You’re closer than you think," the voice whispered, this time directly in her ear, making her stop dead in her tracks. Her breath hitched, and she spun around, eyes wide.

But there was nothing. Just the endless path before and behind her.

"Closer to what?" Hana asked aloud, her fists clenched in frustration. "To death? To whatever cruel game you’re playing? Show yourself!"

This time, the response came not as a whisper, but a chilling, familiar laugh—one she knew all too well. Her blood ran cold as she recognized it.

"Kaito?" Hana whispered, her eyes darting around. The void twisted, and there he was, standing in the distance, his form hazy yet unmistakable.

"You thought you could kill me and walk away?" Kaito’s voice was low, mocking, like the laughter of a ghost.

Hana stepped back instinctively, her heart pounding against her chest. "You're not real. I killed you. I made sure of it."

Kaito’s figure became clearer, his smirk growing. "You’ve killed a lot of people, Hana. But none of us are gone, not really."

"You’re dead," she spat, though her voice trembled. "I don’t care what this is—an illusion, a nightmare—you can’t hurt me."

Kaito took a step forward, his presence growing heavier with each word. "I’m not the one who needs to hurt you, Hana. You’ve done that to yourself. You thought you could escape the consequences of your choices, but deep down, you know you can't."

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Her breath came out in short bursts, her mind reeling. She had been so certain before, so unshakable in her decisions, her manipulations. But now? Now, she was standing on the edge of something far more terrifying.

"You think you're better than all of us because you had the Ledger?" Kaito continued, his tone cold. "You think you're untouchable? You're not. You never were."

"Shut up!" Hana shouted, her voice cracking with anger. "I’m not afraid of you!"

"Oh, but you are," he sneered, closing the distance between them in an instant, his face mere inches from hers. "You're terrified. Terrified that the moment you close your eyes, I'll be there. The moment you turn your back, we'll all be there, waiting. Watching."

Hana stumbled back, her hands shaking. Her mind was spinning, the weight of the darkness pressing down on her. But she wouldn’t let him win, not again. Not here.

"I made my choices, and I don’t regret them," she hissed, trying to sound stronger than she felt. "I did what I had to do. You’re dead, Kaito. You lost."

Kaito smiled that familiar, haunting smile. "Did I? Or did I just set the stage for your downfall?"

Hana clenched her fists, feeling the blood rush to her face. She turned away from him, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break. This was just another game, another test. But as she walked away from his ghostly figure, her footsteps quickened, her pulse racing.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her shifted. The path began to twist and contort, pulling her further into the depths of the unknown. Panic surged through her veins as she tried to maintain her balance.

"Don’t think you can run from your fate," Kaito’s voice called after her, though she refused to look back.

Hana’s feet pounded against the path, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. She could feel the weight of the Ledger’s power hanging over her like a guillotine, its unseen presence mocking her every step.

"You’re running out of time, Hana," Kaito’s voice echoed around her, fainter now. "The Ledger’s power isn’t infinite. You can’t escape what’s coming."

Hana grit her teeth and kept running, her mind racing. Was that true? Had the Ledger’s power been... finite all along? Had it been using her, just as she had used it?

The path twisted sharply, and Hana stumbled, nearly falling into the void itself. But something caught her—an invisible force that pulled her upright and set her back on her feet. The voice, the soft, commanding voice, returned.

"Find me... and you will understand."

Hana’s breathing slowed as she steadied herself, her resolve hardening. Whoever or whatever this voice was, it was leading her to the answers she needed. She would find it. And she would find a way to take control of her fate again.

Hana continued down the path, her steps more determined than before. The void seemed to shift, bending to her will now. The shadows that once felt oppressive now seemed to part for her as if guiding her forward.

After what felt like hours, or perhaps minutes, Hana came to a halt. Before her stood a door—a grand, ornate door made of dark wood, etched with symbols she didn’t recognize. The voice called to her again, this time clearer than ever.

"Enter."

Without hesitation, Hana reached for the door and pushed it open.